Fiery: The Dramatic Exit of Elijah

2 Kings 2: 1-12

16th Century Icon: 
Elijah's Fiery Ascension

Icon scholar Alexander Boguslawski writes about the icon above:

"The most important episode is the prophet's ascension to heaven on a chariot pulled by three fiery horses. In this rendition, his chariot is not shown, only the fancy light-colored wheel substitutes for the commonly shown cart with spoke wheels. The bright red "fireball" is encircled by four blue, green, and brown bands.

Desperately trying to save his master, the disciple, Elisha, is holding on to the coat of Elijah, while the prophet looks onward to the outstretched hand of Christ reaching for him out of heaven in the left upper corner. Two angels are hovering at each side of the fiery ball. They seem to escort Elijah to heaven; the one on the left announces the prophet's arrival, paving the way with music from a trumpet. In the bottom register, Elijah can be seen resting near a "juniper" bush while an angel urges him to eat, for he has a '...long way to go'."

Along with Psalm 50, the story leading up to Elijah's Ascension serves as backdrop for the drama of Transfiguration:

Just before the Lord took Elijah up to heaven in a windstorm, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. 2 Elijah told Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 Some members of the prophetic guild in Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that today the Lord is going to take your master from you?” He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he replied, “As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. 5 Some members of the prophetic guild in Jericho approached Elisha and said, “Do you know that today the Lord is going to take your master from you?” He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

6 Elijah said to him, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he replied, “As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they traveled on together. 7 The fifty members of the prophetic guild went and stood opposite them at a distance, while Elijah and Elisha stood by the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, folded it up, and hit the water with it. The water divided, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of the prophetic spirit that energizes you.” 10 Elijah replied, “That’s a difficult request! If you see me taken from you, may it be so, but if you don’t, it will not happen.”

11 As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a fiery chariot pulled by fiery horses appeared. They went between Elijah and Elisha, and Elijah went up to heaven in a windstorm. 12 While Elisha was watching, he was crying out, “My father, my father! The chariot and horsemen of Israel!” Then he could no longer see him. He grabbed his clothes and tore them in two.

Even though preachers often quote from the Spiritual, "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" when writing on this story (my early title for this post did just that), there's nothing sweet or low about the chariot in our story .... "A fiery chariot (רֶכֶב אֵש) pulled by fiery horses appeared. They went between Elijah and Elisha, and Elijah went up to heaven in a windstorm ..." (V. 11).

The Hebrew word אֵש ('esh, aysh: fire -- burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot) occurs as a key word all through the Elijah narratives. Outside of our text, it features five times in the story of the Contest on Mount Carmel between Elijah and the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18), three times in God's revelation to Elijah on Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19), and another five times in the story about the "captains of fifty" sent against Elijah (2 Kings 1). In each case the fire concerned is not ordinary fire, but the Fire of God.

In our text, the Fire of God also seems to function as a metaphor for the difficulties ahead for Elisha as Elijah's successor, especially since the fiery chariot and horse separate the two prophets.

Similarly, the theophany in the story of Jesus' transfiguration signals the difficulties ahead for the disciples: the painful truth that Jesus must suffer and die, and rise from the dead.

When you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you. (Isaiah 43:2)

As these words were important for the disciples at the sharp turn Jesus' journey took toward Jerusalem, may we take strength from them as we walk into Lent, the "Season of Ash and Fire".

By the way, my German forebears used the name Brandsonntag, "Fire Sunday," for the First Sunday in Lent. The name refers to the customary lighting of bonfires on that day, a practice also known in some regions of Austria and Switzerland.